ACF Charity Bike Ride
"Pedalling for our future"
On Sunday, masses of young boys from Waltham Forest decided to make a stand for themselves by jumping on bikes and cycling together as a team around the borough with Active Change Foundation championing the event. They were joined by members of the Ministry of Defence, along with Met Police officer Phivos Kavallares, and local Met Police Inspector, Keith Head.
It was a surprising sight for local members of our borough, which helped to dispel the perception that youth are delinquents and troublemakers. ACF worked immensely hard to realise the event, bringing the guys off the streets, into the bike shed and back out onto the roads- transforming their energy into sheer optimism for a brighter future.
The young boys cycled their way through areas leading from Leabridge Road to Bakers Arms, Forest Road and onwards, carrying placards and shouting with incalculable energy: ‘NO TO GUNS, NO TO KNIVES, NO TO GANGS, NO TO TERRORISM’. The cyclists were cheered on by onlookers and crowds of family and friends that had gathered to watch.
The primary aim of the event was to raise money for the ACF youth centre, and also their much dreamt of football kits! However, the ride had the additional objective of uniting the many colours and identities of Waltham Forest, cycling to reclaim the streets and reassure onlookers that youth still have compassion for their community. It was a great opportunity for the young people to dispel the negative reputations that they are too often branded with, and to inspire others to join the cause of working for a better community.
ACF would like to thank everyone for all their support. The team looks forward to future events and aspires to make them bigger and better with increased participation from both young people and the local community, building foundations for a brighter future together.
